George R. Lippert Memorial Award
Recognizing Leadership Among SIA Volunteers
About the George R. Lippert Memorial Award
The George R. Lippert Memorial Award, founded in 1989, is named in honor of George R. Lippert, who dedicated more than 20 years of his life to the security industry and SIA. When evaluating candidates nominated for the award, the SIA Lippert Award Committee considers their long-term service to SIA and the security industry, the impact of their efforts on behalf of SIA and the industry, and their integrity, leadership and diplomacy as demonstrated in industry dealings. The Lippert Award is presented at SIA Honors Night.
2022 George R. Lippert Memorial Award Recipient: Scott Schafer
SIA has named Scott Schafer as the 2022 recipient of the George R. Lippert Memorial Award. Schafer is the principal of SMS Advisors, where he works with startups to the largest firms in the security industry, helping them to build a stronger business and to grow faster. He held key leadership positions in the security industry with Arecont Vision and Pelco/Schneider Electric. Prior to coming to the security industry, he had executive roles in the IT industry with NCR/AT&T and Reynolds & Reynolds, where he managed businesses over $1 billion in revenue and up to 2,400 associates.
Schafer has been extensively involved with the association, having served as SIA Board of Directors chair from 2018 to 2020 and previously holding roles as SIA treasurer, secretary and board member. He has served as a presenter at and helped shape SIA’s annual Securing New Ground conference, chaired SIA’s Membership Committee and participated actively in SIA’s events, networking offerings and legislative and advocacy initiatives. Schafer has been a devoted proponent of SIA’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) programs and efforts to grow the security industry’s talent pipeline, including the SIA Women in Security Forum and SIA RISE community, and SIA’s investment in producing high-quality market research for its members and the larger industry. His past industry recognition includes being designated an honorary SIA member in 2020 and being presented SIA’s Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award in 2012 and the SIA Chair’s Award in 2015.
Previous Lippert Award Winners
- 2021: Lynn de Séve
- 2020: Denis Hébert
- 2019: Steve Van Till
- 2018: Pat Comunale
- 2017: John Stroia
- 2016: Fredrik Nilsson
- 2015: Frank De Fina
- 2014: Gordon Hope
- 2013: Ray Dean
- 2012: Bill Bozeman
- 2011: Steve Roth
- 2010: Leo Guthart
- 2009: Alan Forman
- 2008: Dean Russo
- 2007: George Fletcher
- 2006: Allen Fritts
- 2005: David Avritt
- 2004: Marc Mineau
- 2003: Ken Boyda
- 2002: Joe Hurst
- 2001: Bill Moody
- 2000: Bob Cook
- 1999: Les Gold
- 1998: Charles Darsch
- 1997: Craig Leiser
- 1996: Susan Whitehurst
- 1995: Ted Nesse
- 1994: Albert Janigian
- 1993: Ron Spiller
- 1992: Lou Fiore
- 1991: Sandra Jones
- 1990: Kit Vail
- 1989: George Lippert (posthumously)
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